By WWE SmackDown is back above 1.3 million viewers, with the October 9 episode drawing 1.352 million viewers on the USA Network — a big bounce-back from the 1.250 million the show pulled on October 2. The key 18-to-49 demographic rating also climbed, scoring a 0.32 compared to last week’s 0.27, according to Wrestlenomics.
WWE SmackDown (Credits: Fightful)
The Numbers Rebound
The Friday night show has now cleared the 1.3 million mark once again, suggesting last week’s dip was a blip rather than a trend. The demo improvement is equally encouraging: a 0.32 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49 group represents a meaningful jump week over week, reinforcing SmackDown’s position as one of cable’s strongest Friday offerings.
What Fans Watched Online
The most-viewed SmackDown clips on YouTube tell their own story of what moved the needle. R-Truth’s shocking return to attack Damian Priest dominated with 1.3 million views, while the full segment of Sami Zayn ripping into CM Punk and Kevin Owens atop ladders pulled 632K.
Other highlights included an exclusive R-Truth promo promising to hurt Damian Priest (528K views), Finn Bálor saving Danhausen from a Gunther attack (514K), and the crowning of new tag team champions as Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley captured the titles (500K views).
Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
